UK Reopens Schools & Colleges for All Students Starting This Week

The United Kingdom has decided to return pupils to school and students to colleges as part of Step One of the roadmap out of lockdown, starting March 8, Erudera.com reports.

“The reopening of schools marks a truly national effort to beat this virus. It is because of the determination of every person in this country that we can start moving closer to a sense of normality – and it is right that getting our young people back into the classroom is the first step,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated.

According to an official statement published on the UK government’s official site, returning young people to school has been the government’s priority throughout the lockdown as the Prime Minister, and Chief Medical Officer pointed out the pandemic’s effect on children’s physical and mental health.

Many schools in the UK have already invited students for their first rapid lateral flow test, which is a test that helps identify positive COVID-19 cases within 30 minutes, therefore prevents a broader spread of the virus. After three initial tests proceeded in person, students will be supplied with two rapid tests weekly to use at their homes.

“Nearly 57 million lateral flow tests have already been delivered to schools and colleges across the country. Over 5 million lateral flow tests have been conducted across education settings during lockdown, with nearly one million last week alone,” the statement remarked.

Lateral flow tests will be provided for free to adults of households with primary or secondary school pupils, college students, childcare, and support bubbles, the government notes. Twice-weekly testing will also be supplied to adults working on the broader school community, including bus drivers and after-school club leaders.

Secondary school and college students are also asked to wear masks wherever distancing cannot be applied as an additional measure over Easter.

As the Health Secretary arrayed earlier this week, the roadmap is built on the idea of replacing the protection from the lockdown with the safety that comes from vaccines and regular testing.

“Scientific studies show that rates of COVID-19 infection in schools reflect rates in the community, and schools have reduced the risk of transmission. With extra precautionary measures and twice-weekly testing in place and the lowest rate of infection since September 2020, it’s better that students are now back in the classroom,” Dr. Susan Hopkins,Director to Public Health England and Chief Medical Adviser to NHS Test and Trace, has said.

Student’s comeback has been assisted with a £1.7 billion package, focusing on group tutoring programs for all ages, summer provision for students in need, and funding to be utilized by schools for their most disadvantaged pupils.

On July 1, the UK will also start accepting applications for its Graduate route, which offers international students the possibility to work in the country after receiving a high degree in the UK.